New parents in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must register their baby's birth within 42 days or risk a fine of up to £1,000, which could also delay Child Benefit claims and other essential processes.
Key registration facts
According to Office for National Statistics figures, there were 585,396 live births in England and Wales in 2025. Across the entire UK, total annual live births typically range between 600,000 and 700,000 when including Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Under government rules, all births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born. In Scotland, the time limit is even shorter at 21 days.
Five things to know
The government posted on X an update setting out five things parents need to know when registering a birth. It said: "Here are 5 things you need to know: You must register a baby's birth within 42 days (6 weeks); It's free to register a birth; You can register the birth at your local register office; Either parent can register if you’re married or in a civil partnership; A copy of the birth certificate costs £12.50."
The government website explains: "All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born. You should do this at the local register office for the area where the baby was born or at the hospital before the mother leaves. The hospital will tell you if you can register the birth there."
If you cannot register in the area where the baby was born, you can go to another register office and they will send your details to the correct office. Different rules apply for registering a birth in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or abroad.
Required information and documents
When registering the birth, you should know: place and date of the birth; name, surname and sex of the baby; parents’ names, surnames and address; places and dates of parents’ birth; date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership; parents’ jobs; and mother’s maiden surname. You might not need to give all of this information, depending on who is registering the birth.
You should take at least one form of identification when you go to the register office. You can use: passport, birth certificate, deed poll, driving licence, proof of address (for example, a utility bill), Council Tax bill, or marriage or civil partnership certificate. You should also take your child’s personal child health record or ‘red book’ as some registrars may ask to see it.
Consequences of late registration
If you don't register in time, you will probably be sent reminders from the authorities. Prosecution is extremely rare but can be done and carries a legal penalty of a fine of up to £1,000.
After registering the birth, you may be able to claim Child Benefit, but if you have not registered it, then this is more complicated and will take longer. You will need to notify once the birth is registered. Other issues include the child having more problems with getting a passport, a national insurance number, and even enrolling at school.
